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Fedora-wearing thief targeting churches in Denton, Texas

Denton police say a fedora-sporting thief is stealing from local churches — even during service hours.

Police have released video surveillance footage and photographs of a man in at least five church thefts across the Metroplex.

“It’s a sacred place,” officer Ryan Grelle said. “It just shouldn’t be touched, and that makes it a little bit more outrageous that he’s doing this.”

Investigators said the thefts usually occur when the churches are most populated: Sunday mornings and afternoons. The thefts during the week have occurred during basketball games or other activities.

Immaculate Conception Church, Denton

The man has broken into Immaculate Conception Church’s parish office twice and stolen cash. “It irritates me,” Monsignor Charles King said. “I’d say he needs to get a life.”

Denton police said they have connected the man to thefts in Denton, Mansfield, Farmers Branch and Midlothian. Investigators are also looking into a similar case in Southlake.

In every incident, the man is wearing one very distinguishing article of headgear. “The big thing is, he’s wearing a fedora hat each time, anywhere from a brown fedora to a straw-type fedora,” Grelle said.